Who can resist a Bali Holiday? A trip to Bali must be a thrilling moment for first-time travelers. Aside of being so happy to arrive at this beautiful island, many things are still unfamiliar right? To help you make your first Bali vacation remarkable, here are some Travel Tips for visiting Bali for the First Time.Better book in AdvanceComing to Bali between July, September and December, a first-time traveler may need extra patience. It can be rather difficult to find a hotel, the price also skyrocketed due to the peak season. So, instead of being confused about finding accommodation when you arrive in Bali, it's better to book the hotel you want in advance. It also works best in low season; as your accommodation is well-arranged, you have more time to have fun.Check out Bali weather forecast.It’s important for you to know what weather that will welcome you in Bali. Most people visit on July, August, and September when this island have more sun shines. For some others, they take it in other months like November to March when rain often visits.Buy a Sim Card.For your convenient trip, you might need a local sim card or rent 4G LTE Wifi Device to stay connected overseas. It’s not expensive at all and is very easy to find in Bali. Find one in roadside shops or you can even get them at the airport. For a better experience, use Telkomsel. It’s recommended among all!Exchange your moneyAs you are in Bali, you’ll need money in IDR. You’ll find a lot of money changer easily in Bali but better see an authorized money changer like The Central Kuta or Maspintjinra Money Changer. They usually have the most updated and competitive rates. They take no commissions, as well as good service and security.Download Gojek apps and Grab Apps.Great holiday needs good transportation too. So let your wallet not break down by downloading the Gojek Apps or Grab Apps. Aside of cost lower than taxi; this application makes transactions transparent and easy. But, if you plan for a full day tour to other part of Bali (east or north Bali), better take a car rental with driver. It’s much cheaper for sure.Try out Bali’s Iconic Cities.While you are in Bali, why don’t feel different glimpse of Bali through its different cities? Spend a day or two in Kuta to taste the naughty side of Bali. Many bars and nightlife starts when other parts of Bali begin to sleep. Seminyak has those high-end restaurants and hotels for luxury stay. While the cozy Canggu suits your need of an easy outstanding stay. And, if you are looking for luxurious solitude, escape to Ubud! There you’ll get close to the real Bali where culture, luxury and nature get along in harmony.Take a day trip to Nusa Penida Island.Also complete your vacation in Bali's hidden treasure, Nusa Penida Island. You can expect white-sand beaches with crystal blue water, high coastal cliffs drop and less-touched nature. To experience this island at its best, it’s better to spend one or two night there. You can plan for a visit to the famous Broken Beach or even do a Manta Rey snorkeling. Take a temple tourBali trip without a temple tour sounds like making an apple pie without apples! Something’s missing. Bali is named as the island of thousand temples for a reason. So get close to Bali’s culture by visiting one or two beautiful temples on this island! Confused which to visit? Check out our guide of Must See Temples in Bali.Basic Rules in Visiting a temple.We all know that temple is a sacred place for Balinese. There are some unwritten rules you need to follow when you visit one. First, please make sure that you are “clean”; you are not in mourning state or is in monthly period (for women). Wearing proper clothes is also better; wear sarong to cover you lower body and sash on your waist to immerse in Balinese Culture.Eat like a Balinese.Visiting Bali is incomplete without trying to eat like a local. There’re lots of typical Balinese food that’s worth to try; ranging from the famous Suckling Pigs to Balinese Mixed Rice (rice served with various side dishes and sambal) which is easily found in Bali. If you go to a local restaurant, it cost around IDR 25K per portion. Don’t forget to ask for 'tidak pedas' (means not spicy), if you are not used to spicy food! It’ll definitely save you from long visit at the bathroom. Check out our Must try Local Foods that you can’t miss while you are in Bali. Other must visit restaurants, check our recommendations.Chill out at Beach ClubAfter your long days in Bali, get an escape to one of the best beach clubs in Bali. This island brims with many fancy beach clubs that offer luring white sand, tasty cocktails and bites, and some serves you unmatched sunsets. Maybe one of them is on your bucket list? Just try it out! Yet, if you are still confused about which one to visit, try reading our reviews about Best Beach Clubs in Bali.Balinese people are super friendly.It’s not a secret anymore that Balinese are warm and super friendly. Smile is like a politeness language that all Balinese do. So don't hesitate to greet a Balinese, at least you will get a sincere smile in return. And, be aware that there are many Ketut and Wayan as Balinese share common name as an identity. So, explore Bali and get your Balinese friends soon! Source by : https://thebaliguideline.com/blog/bali-first-timer-tips

Melukat is just one of Bali’s magical rituals which involves using water as a ritual cleanser. The aim is to cleanse both body and mind, to refresh the spirit and dissolve away any negative influences. It is also believed to cure non medical diseases and sickness of the spirit and whether it does or not, a session bathing in holy waters will certainly make you feel good.Many of these places exist in Bali, with the best known and most visited ones are hidden around the Tirtha Empul area. Yet, Tirtha Sudamala Temple remains surprisingly unvisited, and delightfully pristine. Descending the steep road and carved granite steps, you get the feeling that you are discovering something really special. Something unknown.Early morning is the best time to visit, while the air is cool and fresh. Sometimes Bali’s youngest Perdanda – ( high Priestess) is in attendance, although the day we went, she was busy elsewhere. She is said to arrive around 8am and will stay for some time to give blessings to her devoted followers.In technical terms, Melukat derives from the old Javanese word “lukat” which means to “cleanse” or “purify” while the Indonesian meaning is “to let go” or release something within us. Self purification is sought by many Hindus and in India, the devoted throng to the banks of the holy Ganges River with a similar purpose. It is a ritual that can be performed many times, in fact the more, the merrier as it can only lead to good things.After the ritual bathing is done, it is a steep walk up the hill, but the Balinese, being service oriented, have motorbikes awaiting the lazy. What a great invention! So a quick and painless ride back to the top of the hill brings us to several warungs serving a host of local delights. Coffee, a cold coke, a ketupat concoction with vegetables and steamed rice, and several other culinary treats are there to be enjoyed. You can just choose what you will. A few local people sell fruit from their own gardens as well as sweet potatoes and if you are lucky, the especially delicious Bangle avocados, the best on the island. It is all a really wonderful way to start the day, or the week, or even the rest of your life!   Source : https://www.nowbali.co.id/magical-melukat-purifying-mind-body-soul/

What is Nyepi? If you’ve never been to Bali before in March, then it’s likely that you’ve never heard of this holiday. It is the most important Balinese Hindu celebration, which marks the turn of the New Year in the Caka Calendar (one of the the calendars that Balinese abide by). Nyepi is a silent day that that occurs for 24 hours during March, each year, following the new moon. It is a day of compulsory quietness (A.K.A. an introverts dream!) that is reserved for self-contemplation. Anything that may interfere with that purpose is restricted. This year (2022) Nyepi falls on March 3rd.THE PURPOSE OF NYEPINyepi is a time of purification prior to the New Year. All of the evil spirits that have been lurking over this island paradise are metaphorically told to pack their bags and scram! This is represented through a series of events that occur in the lead up to the sacred holiday. The day of silence influences the malevolent spirits into believing that there is no one left on the island; thus, causing them to leave.NYEPI ACTIVITYThe lead up to Nyepi sees a whole series of events occur. Driving around town in the weeks prior, you will notice each banjar (village) creating a large monster-like sculpture. These are called ‘ogoh-ogoh’ and represent the bad spirits that are being guided to leave the island during the Nyepi ceremony. Melasti ceremonies occur in the days leading up to Nyepi. They are a cleansing process for people and sacred artefacts which are held alongside the water, at many coastlines around Bali.The day before Nyepi is when the action happens! It begins with prayers in the family temples followed by ‘pengrupukan’; where family members clang a series of loud objects (pots, pans, instruments) around their homes/compounds to chase away malevolent spirits. These spirits are represented by the ogoh-ogoh sculptures which will then be paraded, down the streets, from each individual banjar at 3pm towards town.The central location for the largest (and most popular) ogoh-ogoh parade in Ubud is at the soccer field on Monkey Forest Rd. Head there around 5pm to see the incredible sculptures. Each village is getting more and more competitive every year in the creation of their elaborate monsters. The ogoh-ogoh’s are usually (arrangements may change each year) paraded on the soccer field and then carried down Monkey Forest Road where they ‘compete’ against one another in a simulated fight. This is a sight not to be missed! Children and men from the villages haul the large monsters atop bamboo frames onto their shoulders and walk down the road. After which, they are carried home to be burned in their respective villages.The following day is the day of silence. Everyone who resides on the Island of Bali at this time needs to respect and follow the rules of Nyepi.THE RULES ON THE SILENT DAYThere are four main Nyepi prohibitions; Amati Geni (no fire, light, electricity), Amati Karya (no working), Amati Lelunganan (no travelling), Amati Leanguan (Fasting and no entertainment). I know what you’re thinking ‘no fun!’- but you’re wrong! These rules actually create a magical peaceful landscape where we can go back in time from millennial tech, chill out, and give our eyes a break from the screen for a day. Say ‘catchyalater’ to the guilt that lurks around telling you to be doing more each time you relax; ‘cause on Nyepi- you legit aren’t allowed to! It’s a day where you are required to stop, calm down and enter contemplation as the Caka calendar clocks over into the New Year.Here are the main rules to follow as of 6am on the 3rd of March until 6am on the 4th of March:• Do not go out onto the street: Everyone is required to stay inside the premises in which they reside on Nyepi. There is no traffic on the roads or people on the streets. Every village will assign local law enforcers (pecalang) to patrol the streets via bicycle to ensure that no one leaves their accommodation.• No motor vehicles may be used: With the exception of emergency services.• Be quiet: If we haven’t conveyed the whole ‘silent’ factor of Nyepi yet. Keep the noise level to a minimum- no one outside your room should be able to hear you.• No light: This is the most magical element of Nyepi. Because when there is no light pollution in the sky, oh boy, do those stars shine! Make sure you take glimpse of the shimmering skyline after sundown. It may just be the finest part of the whole experience of Nyepi. You can use low lighting to navigate around your indoor space as long as it isn’t visible from the exterior of the room- use your shutters.• No electricity: This is a debateable one, as some people still use it. Technically you shouldn’t. But there won’t be anyone in your room to police this. If you do choose to use electricity, use it on things that won’t disturb the peace (i.e. no stereos, speakers, TVs). Turn off any automated electronics that may cause a disturbance (pool pumps, sensor lighting etc.)THINGS TO CONSIDER IN THE LEAD UP TO NYEPI:• The airport will be closed from 6am on the 3rd of March until 6am on the 4th of March. Similarly, you will not be able to get transport anywhere on the island during this period.• From around 3pm on the day prior to Nyepi, villages will begin to transport their ogoh-ogohs to central locations in each town in Bali. Undoubtedly, causing traffic jams. If you need to get around the island on this day, plan accordingly by allowing extra time in transit.• Unless your hotel provides it, you will need to pre-arrange food and water for the 24-hour period to eat in your home/accommodation. We have posted some suggestions on Facebook about this. You can re-heat meals at home (as cooking smelly foods is ill advised), get takeaway or organise a pre-arranged meal pack to take home prior to the silent day.• There will be no internet on the entire island of Bali from 6am on the 3rd of March until 6am on the 4th of March (*cue grumpy old foreigners having a whinge*). Any plans you have to work online, contact others via online services etc. will need to be re-arranged. This is the first year that the authorities are implementing this rule. It is an attempt to stop people leaving their homes and taking selfies on the abandoned streets (ugh, sigh), and to also promote the philosophy of silence and contemplation. [Note: authorities have confirmed that internet will be suspended during this time, but speculation still circulates as to whether it’s phone-only internet or the entire service].• Most stores will be closed from 9pm on the 2nd until 9am on the 4th. Some may stay closed longer; however there will be plenty of places open around brunch o’clock by the 4th.Nyepi is unlike any other holiday in Bali, and is certainly unlike any experience in the West. For 24 hours you can experience the entire island in complete silence; bugs, ducks and birds dominate the soundscape without the low hum of motorbikes. If you’re not keen to be a part of this enchanting holiday you can make preparations in advance to head to Java, Lombok or the Gili Islands (which are generally packed at this time). Yet, it is something that we believe, everyone should have on their bucket list to experience at least once in their lifetime.  Source  : https://ubudhood.com/nyepi/